SHAW BUST-UP

TAmTRUM

Nemanja Matic made his first start since joining Manchester United from Chelsea

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Nemanja Matic says sorry to a fan after the ball blasted into the crowd

A half which showed the backline can look forward to a steely-walled protection over the months ahead.

A half which will have left future opponents already rubbing shins in painful anticipation – as Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira in particular was doing after one robust challenge.

Mind you, the biggest casualty was a female fan whose glasses were on the wrong end of a blocked challenge from the new boy which flew into the crowd, and saw him follow suit as he checked on her health.

Yet just as pleasing was the way Matic, a cough and a spit into United life, bossed his team-mates into position, barked out orders when to run, when to stay, and generally took a grip.

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Henrikh Mkhitaryan celebrates after giving Manchester United a well-deserved lead

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Dennis Praet scored the equaliser with a neat finish from the edge of the area

Much like United did in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch in fact, before he was given a breather in the second half, with Tuesday’s Super Cup against Real Madrid in mind.

Worryingly, with Matic out of the way, United slackened a vice-like grip on things and – as so often last season – threatened to blow a game they had totally dominated.

As so often last term, all they had managed was a solitary goal, from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan header after as bizarre and chaotic a 60 seconds as you will see in a long while.

PA:Press Association

Dennis Praet netted the equaliser with under 20 minutes to play

It started with a rush of blood from Daley Blind which had David De Gea scurrying and diving to stop an ill-placed backpass finding the corner.

That led to every United played packing the six yard box from the resulting indirect free kick – but less than a minute later they were the ones celebrating a goal.

After a body-on-the-line bout of blocking and pinballing saw off the danger, Antonio Valencia pounced quickest.

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Ander Herrera of Manchester United scores a goal which is adjudged as offside

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Juan Mata netted the winner late on for Manchester United

He fed Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who picked out Matteo Darmian beyond the far post – and when he returned the favour, the Armenian headed the opener.

United were in cruise control, but got hit by a sucker punch themselves when Chris Smalling made a hash of clearing Karol LInetty’s cross and Dennis Praet finished the rebound.

At least this time they found a way back, courtesy of Juan Mata’s neat finish after Anthony Martial’s even neater tee-up.

So now it is off to Macedonia and that Super Cup clash with Real Madrid, before the serious stuff starts in ten days.